People are being warned to keep watch for opportunist burglars in the hot weather following a spate of thefts in Coventry and Warwickshire

Police are telling householders to close downstairs doors and windows at night and to watch out for would-be thieves.

Houses were struck across Coventry and Warwickshire at the weekend as temperatures of up to 30C caused a heat-wave.

A burglar fled empty-handed from a house in Willenhalll in Coventry at 2pm on Saturday when an unlocked door was opened. The raider was disturbed before they could take anything.

And £600 worth of jewellery was taken from a house in Stoke Aldermoor at 9pm on the same day when a crook walked through an open kitchen door.

In Stratford two houses were entered between last night and this morning.

Someone made their way through an open downstairs window in Halford Road, while an offender stole a lap-top computer from a house in Evesham Road after getting in through a conservatory.

DC Phil Thomas of Coventry police said:

“The hot weather can create opportunities for burglars because people tend to leave their doors and windows open much more than usual.

“We would urge householders to be vigilant to the threat of opportunist burglars who take advantage of this.”